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R ESTAURANT
A Misty River Rising
by Billy Lloyd Hulls
Located in the
Cannon ‘Beach -diotel
1116 S- Memlock.
"Playing" music they call it. But as any working muscian knows
it takes a lot of work to "play". There are gigs and then there are
gigs. Playing an open sided gazebo in Waterfront Park during
Rose Festival, which means it’s cold, windy and raining, it is
alter all June in Oregon, at noon, is no one's idea of "playing".
How I came to find myself there is really none of your business,
let's say 1 was looking for a friend. But as 1 wandered through
the endless booths and displays of things I have long since lost
interest in, looking for a dry place to dnnk my coffee and smoke
a cigarette, I came upon the aformentioned gazebo, where a band
was setting up. 1 found a plastic chair out of the downpour and
watched a depressing scene 1 had taken part in so many times.
Outside in bad weather playing to people eating cotton candy
and comdogs. Not exactly the gig from hell but certainly
mentioned in Dante' long lost book on the suffering of artists.
The musicians seemed to be familiar with the dues paying part
of the deal, and after getting levels set they looked around at
each other and started it off. The guitar player, a grown up
woman named Carol Harley, played simple traditional rythm
keeping the chords coming while she looked out at the weather.
Her smile seemed to say, "Well, I've had a baby, I've changed
diapers, 1 can handle this." Beside her was another woman,
young enough to be Carol's daughter, named Dana Abel, on
accordian, and she was, again playing the simple traditional,
high quality, nothing fancy, nothing wasted style. Beside her
was was Laura Quigley, who is not only young enough to be, but
in fact is Carol Harley's daughter. She was playing bass with
skill belying her age. Her animated face was quick to smile or
scrunch up while working through a change, and mostly
showing that she was doing that, oh so, important task of
listening to the whole band. The last musician was Chris
Kokesh, she was playing violin and would pick up a guitar
occasionally. During the quick sound check on her guitar she
had played the introduction to "One More Dollar", a song that
Spud taught our band. I wanted to hear their arrangement. No, it
wasn't all that altrueistic I admit, these were four very attractive
and talented women, and they sing that harmony that women
alone can do. The one that men would be wise to listen to very
carefully. Individually they take the lead vocal duties and each is
unto herself enique, in range and phrasing. You could call this a
'four piece country chick band' but you would be stupid if you
did. I bought their new CD "Rising" when they were finished
and noticed that they had 'guests' like Glen Moore, a legendary
Oregon jazz bass player, and mandolinist John Reichman, as
well as other local 'pros' sitting in. They play the kind of music
that I've heard called "Americana" a mixture of acoustic folk,
bluegrass, Celtic, rock and jazz. Chris's original songs are very
different from the 'oh, baby, come home to Momma' of
traditional country, but not the often bitter feminist rants of some
'grrri' bands. Her song, "Real as a Dream" tells of a relationship
gone bad and ends with the lines "You on your white horse,
BIG WAVE CAFE
HWY 101 @ Manzanita Junction
Songwriters in the Round
Beach Series
Saturday
July 22nd 9:00 PM
Gourmet Food & Great Music
503-368-W AVE
y
CANNON BEACH
AMERICAN LEGION
1216 South Hemlock
Cannon Beach, Oregon 436-2‘JTJ
Monday Night Jam
6PM - 8:30PM
(503)436-0908
‘Reserva tions S ugges ted
Light Lunch 12:00 - 4:00
homemade soups, chozoders, bread
and delightful desserts
Dinner Served 4:00 ■ 9:00
Azoard winning chowders, unique salads
pasta, seafood, steals and chicken
Monday - QreepSpedals
'Wednesday ■ (Pasta Specials
ClosedSunday
made for the sunset, you and your princess bride. Is this the end
of the story, I fight the dragons, you get the glory." Dana's
original, "This American Dream", talks with compassion about a
husband and father working his way out of poverty only to find
that, "the things money can't buy are lacking in my life."
What really struck me on that rainy morning
on the banks of the Willamette was not just that they were
troopers, but that they were working hard to make the music
their own. The voices could be compared favorably to Emmy
Lou Harris, Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, or Maria Muldaur, but
their phrasing, the mix of the words and the harmony, the
timing, the full rest, dramatic mixing of what is being sung with
how it is being sung adds a jazz flavor that makes their sound
different. They are not quite seasoned pros yet, but the
beginnings of a band that you will be hearing a lot more about in
the future. They are called Misty River and they play around
Portland, Oregon and even have a web site;
www.mistyriverband.com.
M e m be r» & Guests
D onations at the D oor
Proceeds to B enefit C om m unity
Free Pool & Darts
M onday Night Jam 7pm until 9pm
Rob Sheris Band with Nancy King
July 15 at the Bald Eagle Coffee House at 1287 S. Hemlock
in Mid-town Cannon Beach and July 16th at 2PM for the
Concerts in the Park Series.
Casually ‘Elegant Dining
Grant/Matheney Jazz duo to perform in July
The critically acclaimed jazz duo of Darrell Grant and
Dmitri Mathney will bring their chamber jazz music to
Seaside at 7:30 P.M. on July 15th at Nicholson Hall (816 N.
Holladay Dr.). With their “Salon Concert” performances,
the classically trained duo blends the intimacy of chmaber
music with the playful, sontaneous, spirit of American jazz
to take the listener on an inspired musical journey. The do
has performed on major concert stages from Carnegie Hall
to the Montery, Telluride and San Francisco jass festivals.
“The Salon Concert is a setting which we feel celebrates the
best of what music is all about” says Grant. “It allows us to
share the creative spirit, to make a real connection with our
audience, and to acheive a level of heartfelt communication
that exceeds that which often occurs in larger esembles".
For further infromation, contact Bob Ragsdale (436-2947)
or Nicholson Hall (717-0143)
Budweiser
K IN G O F B E E R S,
L/ke M/ke\ hike »
Clatsop Distributing has been proudly serving and supporting
Clatsop County for over 27 years. Please drink responsibly and
enjoy your Summer. Are you ready for a Bud tonight?
BILL’S
i
Tavern & Brewhouse
188 N. HEMLOCK
CANNON BEACH, OR 97110
436-2202
V
B ill says, “ I f you’ re in a h urry,
you don’ t belong here.”
Liberty doesn’t work as well in practice
as it does in speeches.
~ Will Rogers
V
0
Mike's Bike Shop
6
I
Rentals • Repairs • Sales
24 years downtown, on Spruce Street
436-1266
(O u t
¿EFT*EDGE JTttW 2000
I
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o f state inquiries, 800-492-1266)